"Budd always wanted to win the game off a single ball": Beldham observed, "If Mr. Budd would not hit out so eagerly, he would be the finest player in all England." When I knew him his hitting was quite safe play. Still Lord Frederick's was the prettier style of batting, and he had the character of being the most scientific player. But since Mr. Budd had the largest average in spite of his hitting, Beldham becomes a witness in his favour. Mr. Budd measured five feet ten inches, and weighed twelve stone, very clean made and powerful, with an eye singularly keen, and great natural quickness, being one of the fastest runners of his day. Secondly, Mr. Budd was the better fieldsman. He stood usually at middle-wicket. I never saw safer hands at a catch; and I have seen him very quick at stumping out. But, Lord Frederick could not take every part of the field; but was always short-slip, and not one of the very best. And, thirdly, Mr. Budd was the better bowler. Mr. Budd hit well from the wrist. At Woolwich he hit a volley to long-field for nine, though Mr. Parry threw it in. He also hit out of Lord's old ground. "Lord had said he would forfeit twenty-five guineas if any one thus proved his ground too small: so we all crowded around Mr. Budd," said Beldham, "and told him what he might claim. 'Well then," he said, 'I claim it, and give it among the players.' But Lord was shabby and would not pay.' "
Mr. Budd made a slight correction of Beldham's memory for the second edition of The Cricket Field. He wrote:—'I return the proof-sheets of the History of my Contemporaries, and can truly say that they do indeed remind me of old times. I find one thing only to correct, which I hope you will be in time to alter, for your accuracy will then, to the best of my belief, be wholly without exception:—write twenty guineas, and not twenty-five, as the sum offered, by old Thomas Lord, if any one should hit out of his ground where now is Dorset Square. You invite me to note further particulars for your second edition: the only omission
